Scrabbling

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scrabble \Scrab"ble\ (skr[a^]b"b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
     {Scrabbled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scrabbling}.] [Freq. of scrape.
     Cf. {Scramble}, {Scrawl}, v. t.]
     1. To scrape, paw, or scratch with the hands; to proceed by
        clawing with the hands and feet; to scramble; as, to
        scrabble up a cliff or a tree.


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              Now after a while Little-faith came to himself, and
              getting up made shift to scrabble on his way.
                                                    --Bunyan.
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     2. To make irregular, crooked, or unmeaning marks; to
        scribble; to scrawl.
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              David . . . scrabbled on the doors of the gate. --1.
                                                    Sam. xxi. 13.
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